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Trevor Cosgrove led the Bulldogs in scoring in 2016-17 with 49 points, he’s committed to Colgate University.

With the 2016-17 BCHL season officially done for three of the circuits’s 17 teams, anticipation is building for next season already.

With future considerations from this season’s trades potentially turning into players for next season, recruiting, and players moving on due to age or college commitments, there’s no shortage of work to be done before the 2017-18 season starts in September at the 6th Annual BCHL Showcase in Chilliwack.

I’ll break down what all 17 teams are looking at roster-wise heading into the off-season. These numbers will likely change as players look to move to other leagues like the WHL, USHL, NAHL, are included in trades, retire, or wind up committing to post-secondary institutions before September and don’t return to their BCHL clubs.

The depth chart is based on coaches going with a 23-man roster of 13 forwards, 8 defensemen and 2 goaltenders.

So let’s start alphabetically, with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs:

Graduating Players

Jake Witkowski (aged out)

Nicholas Rasovic (aged out)

Paul Savage (aged out)

Malik Kaila (aged out)

Brody Claeys (aged out)

Trevor Cosgrove (Colgate University)

Henry Marshall (Colgate University)

Darren Rizzolo (Northeastern University)

Eligible Returnees

(* indicates an open spot – assuming the team goes with 13 forwards and 8 defencemen)

Penticton play-by-play man Fraser Rodgers had BCHL Commissioner John Grisdale on during his broadcast of the Vees-Soo game yesterday at the RBC Cup. During the interview – which is available right here – Grisdale confirms what was reported in this space earlier this month, which is that the Wenatchee Wild will play in the Mainland Division next season. However, Grisdale also mentions that Wenatchee’s division placement will be reviewed following the 2015-16 season. The Wild’s import situation is also clarified in the interview. Basically, Wenatchee is allowed four imports under USA Hockey rules, but the BCHL has allowed the Wild to have a catchment area which consists of Washington, Missouri, California, and Colorado. Any players from those states won’t be considered import players for Wenatchee while any players from the remaining 46 states and Canada will be considered imports.

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There’s been a lot of talk over the last few days about the status of the Victoria Grizzlies as their lease agreement with West Shore Parks and Recreation for The Q Centre is up at the end of May. First came word on Wednesday that the situation was ‘dire’ and the Grizzlies may cease operations at the end of the month. Now, after two days of negotiations, it appears things are looking more like the two sides will be able to reach an agreement. Mario Annicchiarico from the Victoria Times-Colonist has more here.

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Merritt Centennials defenseman Josh Teves was named the winner of the 2015 RBC National Junior A Scholarship on Thursday. Teves was chosen from 10 finalists – one from each of the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s member leagues – and will receive a $5,000 scholarship. He is just the second winner of the scholarship from the BCHL, Alberni Valley’s Kevin Ross was the first back in 2009. Teves, who played his first BCHL season in 2014-15, led all Centennials’ blueliners in scoring with 33 points (five goals, 28 assists) in 57 regular season games.

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A week ago Thursday, the WHL held its annual Bantam Draft. Normally it wouldn’t be that noteworthy for my blog without a BCHL connection, but it turns out there is a BCHL connection. The Victoria Royals selected 18-year-old Penticton defenseman Gabe Bast in the 10th round, 211th overall in the draft. He is the oldest player chosen in this year’s draft – Bast has actually been eligible for it for three years. This season, Bast had 40 points (nine goals, 31 assists) and 38 penalty minutes in 49 games for the Vees. He’s committed the University of North Dakota for 2016-17. The Royals are hoping Bast forgoes his NCAA career to play with his brother Luke, who Victoria selected in the sixth round. I get that the WHL Bantam Draft is for those players who have graduated from bantam, but maybe it’s time to call it the WHL Entry Draft?

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The Chilliwack Chiefs will have a new play-by-play voice in 2015-16 after Kraig Krause accepted an offer from York University Athletics in Ontario. His role with York includes play-by-play broadcasting and sports journalism in print, radio and online coverage of Lions hockey, football, basketball and all other varsity sports. Krause will also work towards his Honours BA in Communications. He spent one season in the booth in Chilliwack.

Chilliwack caused a buzz around the BCHL late last week when it committed to eight players who spent half of the 2014-15 season playing for the same team – the Connecticut Wolf Pack. Coming to the Chiefs are 18-year-old goaltender Matteo Esposito, 19-year-old defenseman Zach Giuttari, 19-year-old forwards Vimal Sukumaran, Ben Sharf, and Eric Benshadle, and 18-year-old forwards Kale Kane and Jake Smith. Despite being born in the US, neither Esposito nor Germain will be considered imports for Chilliwack as they hold Canadian citizenship. Giuttari, Benshadle, Sharf, and Smith are considered imports. The BCHL website appears to be a bit inaccurate in stating “Only American-born players are considered imports.” Meanwhile, the CJHL definition is: “No player having Canadian citizenship shall be classified as an import.”

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According to Jeff Cox, a writer for the SB Nation College Hockey website, 18-year-old goaltender Max Prawdzik will play for the Trail Smoke Eaters in 2015-16. Prawdzik played US High School hockey for the last four seasons, leading Brooks School to two prep championships. Cox’s article, which contains tidbits about a few other players committed to BCHL teams for the upcoming season, is here.

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Defenseman Andy Stevens had committed to the Powell River Kings for 2015-16. Stevens spent 2014-15 with the Western Canadian Junior B champion Campbell River Storm, posting 17 points (two goals, 15 assists) in 40 games. The 17-year-old also had one assist in eight games as an affiliate player with the Kings. Stevens even got into four playoff games with Powell River and had one assist. The Campbell River, BC, native was a fifth round selection, 98th overall, of the Kootenay Ice in the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft.

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Forward Jordan Sandhu will play for the Alberni Valley Bulldogs in 2015-16 after committing to the team. The 16-year-old spent 2014-15 with the Greater Vancouver Canadians of the BC Major Midget League. He had 27 points (three goals, 24 assists) with the Canadians and no points in one game as an AP with Alberni Valley. He’s also a WHL Bantam Draft pick after being selected by Kelowna in the fourth round, 88th overall last year.

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Nanaimo solidified its goaltending for next season with the commitment of 19-year-old netminder Jonathan Reinhart. The Cambridge, ON, played the last two seasons with the junior B Elmira Sugar Kings of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, compiling a 42-9-6 record, a 2.34 goals-against-average, a .925 save percentage and six shutouts in 60 games played.

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18-year-old defenseman Brett Stirling committed to the Victoria Grizzlies for 2015-16. Stirling spent the last two seasons with Salisbury School, playing US High School hockey. The Aurora, ON, product had 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) in 29 games in 2014-15.

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According to a number of sources in North Dakota, including the Grand Forks Herald newspaper, University of North Dakota recruits and former East Grand Forks Senior High players Dixon Bowen and Colton Poolman have committed to play for the Penticton Vees next season. Both players spent 2014-15 with the Fargo Force of the US Hockey League. Bowen, a 19-year-old forward, had three points (two goals, one assist) in 15 games with the Force. Poolman, a defenseman, is also 19-years-old. He had ten assists in 46 games with Fargo.

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19-year-old Victoria Grizzlies goaltender Sean Cleary has committed to the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, starting in September of this year. The Centerville, MA, native was 7-7-1 in 19 games with the Grizzlies in 2014-15, posting a 3.33 goals-against-average and an .888 save percentage.

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Brian and Joseph Drapluk will continue their hockey careers on the same team. The 21-year-old twin brothers have committed to the NCAA Div. III University of Wisconsin-River Falls for 2015-16. Joseph, who’s a forward, finished his two year BCHL career with 74 points (30 goals, 44 assists) in 109 games. Brian, a defenseman, finishes with 26 points (three goals, 23 assists) in 95 games. Both players spent their entire BCHL careers with the Surrey Eagles.

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Cowichan Capitals forward Jesse Neher committed to NCAA Div. III SUNY-Plattsburgh for 2015-16. The 21-year-old is a veteran of 226 BCHL games, 82 with Nanaimo and 144 with Cowichan. He had 22 points (nine goals, 13 assists) in 55 games this past season. Neher is the third member of the Caps to commit to college hockey for next season, joining Kyle Horsman (Robert Morris) and Julien Lepage (York).

As I do each year, I’ve calculated each BCHL team’s number of roster players, number of 20-year-olds (or 1993-born) and number of imports heading into this Friday’s Hockey Canada carding and trade deadline. These numbers do not include players on injured reserve as they don’t count towards roster numbers.Teams are allowed 22 players overall on their roster, of which no more than six can be 1993-born players and no more than seven can be import players. This should show what some teams are able to add or subtract when the deadline arrives. As always, any corrections and comments are welcome and encouraged.Alberni Valley (11-22-2-4)Number of players: 22Number of players able to add: 0Number of 20-year-olds: 4Number of 20-year-olds able to add: 2Number of imports: 4Number of imports able to add: 3Chilliwack (10-27-1-3)Number of players: 21Number of players able to add: 1Number of 20-year-olds: 5Number of 20-year-olds able to add: 1Number of imports: 6Number of imports able to add: 1Coquitlam (18-16-1-3)Number of players: 20Number of players able to add: 2Number of 20-year-olds: 4Number of 20-year-olds able to add: 2Number of imports: 5Number of imports able to add: 2Cowichan Valley (14-25-1-1)Number of players: 22Number of players able to add: 0Number of 20-year-olds: 5Number of 20-year-olds able to add: 1Number of imports: 0Number of imports able to add: 7Langley (25-12-1-4)Number of players: 21Number of players able to add: 1Number of 20-year-olds: 5Number of 20-year-olds able to add: 1Number of imports: 7Number of imports able to add: 0Merritt (19-16-3-1)Number of players: 22Number of players able to add: 0Number of 20-year-olds: 5Number of 20-year-olds able to add: 1Number of imports: 5Number of imports able to add: 2Nanaimo (20-19-1-1)Number of players: 22Number of players able to add: 0Number of 20-year-olds: 3Number of 20-year-olds able to add: 3Number of imports: 3Number of imports able to add: 4Penticton (25-9-2-3)Number of players: 22Number of players able to add: 0Number of 20-year-olds: 6Number of 20-year-olds able to add: 0Number of imports: 6Number of imports able to add: 1Powell River (25-9-2-2)Number of players: 22Number of players able to add: 0Number of 20-year-olds: 3Number of 20-year-olds able to add: 3Number of imports: 4Number of imports able to add: 3Prince George (22-13-2-2)Number of players: 22Number of players able to add: 0Number of 20-year-olds: 5Number of 20-year-olds able to add: 1Number of imports: 4Number of imports able to add: 3Salmon Arm (20-13-1-5)Number of players: 22Number of players able to add: 0Number of 20-year-olds: 4Number of 20-year-olds able to add: 2Number of imports: 6Number of imports able to add: 1Surrey (17-22-1-0)Number of players: 21Number of players able to add: 1Number of 20-year-olds: 4Number of 20-year-olds able to add: 2Number of imports: 4Number of imports able to add: 3Trail (8-29-2-2)Number of players: 22Number of players able to add: 0Number of 20-year-olds: 2Number of 20-year-olds able to add: 4Number of imports: 3Number of imports able to add: 4Vernon (21-11-3-4)Number of players: 21Number of players able to add: 1Number of 20-year-olds: 6Number of 20-year-olds able to add: 0Number of imports: 4Number of imports able to add: 3Victoria (26-9-3-2)Number of players: 22Number of players able to add: 0Number of 20-year-olds: 5Number of 20-year-olds able to add: 1Number of imports: 1Number of imports able to add: 6West Kelowna (22-12-2-2)Number of players: 22Number of players able to add: 0Number of 20-year-olds: 5Number of 20-year-olds able to add: 1Number of imports: 5Number of imports able to add: 2

The first CJHL roster deadline of the season is coming up this Sunday, December 1st and it’s one that’s seen BCHL teams be traditionally busy.

As of December 1st, teams must be at 25 or less, which includes carded players plus available unused cards. The norm is for teams to end up with a 22 player roster and 3 cards, but occasionally teams will go with less than 22 players and then have more cards available for use leading up to the January 10th roster deadline.

For example, if a team has 28 cards remaining of the 45 they started with, (including the 22 players on their roster) and it reduces to 25 on Sunday night, it makes sense to trade now, rather than after December 1st. The idea being that the team uses up cards 23 through 28 instead of losing them. This is assuming the team wants to make some changes.

Last season, there were eight trades in the week leading up to the deadline. In 2011, seven trades were made. In 2010, there were 16 trades while in 2009, there were also 16 deals.

This week may buck the trend as there haven’t been any trades made, but things can change quickly!

Here’s a look at the moves from the 2012-13 season from November 24 – December 1:

01-Dec-12 The Nanaimo Clippers Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Greg Trichilo (92)(F) to the Woodstock Slammers Hockey Club in exchange for future considerations.

01-Dec-12 The Cowichan Valley Captials Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Corey Scammon (93)(D) to the Brooks Bandits Hockey Club of the AJHL in exchange for future considerations.

01-Dec-12 The Nanaimo Clippers Hockey Club transfers the CJHL playing rights of David Iacono (93)(D) to the Aurora Tigers Hockey Club of the OJHL in exchange for future considerations.

01-Dec-12 The Vernon Vipers Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Mitch Van Teeling (93)(F) to the Dauphin Kings Hockey Club of the MJHL in exchange for future considerations.

29-Nov-12 The Vernon Vipers Hockey Club transfer the playing rights of Landon Robin (94)(F) to the Powell River Kings Hockey Club in exchange for future considerations.

29-Nov-12 The Alberni Valley Bulldogs Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Nathan Craft (94)(F) to the Langley Rivermen Hockey Club in exchange for future considerations.

28-Nov-12 The Merritt Centennials Hockey Club transfer the playing rights of Brandon Bruce (93)(F) to the Brooks Bandits Hockey Club in exchange for the playing rights of Sam Johnson (94) and future considerations.

27-Nov-12 The Nanaimo Clippers Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Mathew Grant (93)(F) to the Cowichan Valley Capitals Hockey Club in exchange for the playing rights of Jesse Neher (94)(F) and Luke Gordon (94)(F).

Here’s a look at the moves from the 2011-12 season from November 24 – December 1:

01-Dec-11 The Nanaimo Clippers Hockey Club transfers the recently acquired playing rights of Adam Botinck (92)(F) and Nicholas Wong (91)(D) to the Grande Prairie Storm Hockey Club in exchange for the playing rights of Dan Correale and Mike Sones.

01-Dec-11 The Trail Smoke Eaters Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Adam Boytinck (92)(F) and Nicholas Wong (91)(F) to the Nanaimo Clippers Hockey Club in exchange for the playing rights of Tanner Clarkson (93)(F) and future considerations.

01-Dec-11 The Westside Warriors Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Tyler Krause (91)(F) and future considerations to the Okotoks Oilers Hockey Club of the AJHL in exchange for the playing rights of Marcus Basara (93)(F).

01-Dec-11 The Prince George Spruce Kings transfers the playing rights of Stefan Bazar (92)(F) to the St. Albert Steel Hockey Club of the AJHL in exchange for the playing rights of Ty Swabb (92).

29-Nov-11 The Vernon Vipers Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Alex Hagen (92)(C) to the Surrey Eagles Hockey Club in exchange for future considerations.

29-Nov-11 The Victoria Grizzlies Hockey Club acquire the playing rights of Mike Collins (91)(F) from the OCN Blizzard Hockey Club of the MJHL in exchange for future considerations.

28-Nov-11 The Vernon Vipers Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Marcus Basara (93)(F), Connor Hartley (93)(F) and future considerations to the Okotoks Oilers Hockey Club of the AJHL in exchange for the playing rights of Ben Gamache (91)(F).

Here’s a look at the moves from the 2010-11 season from November 24 – December 1:

01-Dec-10 The Quesnel Millionaires Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Sam Higgins (90) to the Fort MacMurray Oil Barons Hockey Club of the AJHL in exchange for future considerations.

01-Dec-10 The Quesnel Millionaires Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Brett Penner to the Flin Flon Bombers Hockey Club of the SJHL in exchange for future considerations.

01-Dec-10 The Victoria Grizzlies Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Bruin McDonald (92)(D) to the Vernon Vipers Hockey Club in exchange for future considerations.

01-Dec-10 The Vernon Vipers Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Bryton Udy (G)(93), Elliot Richardson (91)(D) and future considerations to the Quesnel Millionaires Hockey Club in exchange for the playing rights of Kirby Halcrow (91)(G).

30-Nov-10 The Cowichan Valley Capitals Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Greg Ferguson to the Humboldt Broncos of the SJHL in exchange for the playing rights of Darcy Kuemper and future considerations.

30-Nov-10 The Powell River Kings Hockey Club acquires the playing rights of Justin Bardarson from the Melfort Mustangs of the SJHL in exchange for future considerations.

30-Nov-10 The Powell River Kings Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Ryan Elliot (92) to the Winnipeg Blues Hockey Club in exchange for future considerations.

30-Nov-10 The Salmon Arm Silverbacks Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Clayton Petrie (92)(F), Justin Krabben (91)(D) and future considerations to the Calgary Canucks Hockey Club of the AJHL in exchange for the playing rights of Kevin Mills (90)(D).

30-Nov-10 The Cowichan Valley Capitals Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Clayton Petrie (92)(F) to the Salmon Arm Silverbacks Hockey Club in exchange for future considerations.

29-Nov-10 The Prince George Spruce Kings Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Jeff Datoff (92)(D) to the Nipawin Hawks Hockey Club of the SJHL in exchange for future considerations.

28-Nov-10 The Salmon Arm Silverbacks Hockey Club transfer the playing rights of Chase Martin (92)(G) to the Cowichan Valley Capitals Hockey Club in exchange for future considerations

26-Nov-10 The Quesnel Millionaires Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Sean Cahill (90) to the Kindersley Clippers Hockey Club in exchange for the playing rights of Brett Penner (92) and future considerations.

25-Nov-10 The Cowichan Valley Capitals Hockey Club acquire the playing rights of Devin Dambrauskas (92) from the Camrose Kodiaks Hockey Club of the AJHL in exchange for future considerations.

25-Nov-10 The Quesnel Millionaires Hockey Club have traded the CJHL playing rights of Sterling Bear (90)(F) to the Melfort Mustangs Hockey Club of the SJHL in exchange for future considerations.

24-Nov-10 The Cowichan Valley Capitals Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Shawn Mueller (92)(F) and future considerations to the Quesnel Millionaires Hockey Club in exchange for the playing rights of Clayton Chessa (91)(F).

24-Nov-10 The Penticton Vees Hockey Club transfer the playing rights of Jason Nash (91)(D) to the Trail Smoke Eaters Hockey Club to complete the future considerations for the Michael Betz transaction completed earlier in the season.

Here’s a look at the moves from the 2009-10 season from November 24 – December 1:

01-Dec-09 The Quesnel Millionaires Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Breyden DeCock to the Drumheller Dragons of the AJHL in exchange for the CJHL Jr A playing rights of Taylor Orser (90).

01-Dec-09 The Nanaimo Clippers Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Connor Tiechko (92)(F) to the Surrey Eagles Hockey Club in exchange for future considerations.

01-Dec-09 The Langley Chiefs Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Marcus Watson (F)(89) to the Prince George Spruce Kings Hockey Club in exchange for the playing rights of Tyler Miller (91)(D).

01-Dec-09 The Alberni Valley Bulldogs Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Jesse Halikas (91)(F) to the Lloydminster Bobcats Hockey Club of the AJHL in exchange for the playing rights of Derek Schemenauer (90)(F) and future considerations.

01-Dec-09 The Burnaby Express Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Mike Puddifant (D)(91) to the Nanaimo Clippers Hockey Club in exchange for future considerations.

01-Dec-09 The Nanaimo Clippers Hockey Club acquire the playing rights of Rys Hadfield (G) from the Grande Prairie Storm Hockey Club of the AJHL in exchange for future considerations.

30-Nov-09 The Quesnel Millionaires Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Derek Ginnell (91)(F) and future considerations to the Sainte Agathe Hockey Club of the LHJAAAQ in exchange for the playing rights of Joshua Desmarais.

30-Nov-09 The Nanaimo Clippers Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Derek Ginnell (91)(F) to the Quesnel Millionaires Hockey Club.

30-Nov-09 The Alberni Valley Bulldogs Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Curtis Tonello (90)(D) and future considerations to the Trail Smoke Eaters Hockey Club in exchange for the playing rights of Tye Lewis (89)(F).

30-Nov-09 The Victoria Grizzlies Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Richard Virtanen (89)(G) to the Williams Lake Timberwolves Hockey Club in exchange for future considerations.

30-Nov-09 The Prince George Spruce Kings Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Clayton McEwan (91)(D) and future considerations to the Williams Lake Timberwolves Hockey Club in exchange for the playing rights of Brendan Nadolny (90)(D).

29-Nov-09 The Burnaby Express Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Mike Chan (90)(G) to the Surrey Eagles Hockey Club in exchange for future considerations.

25-Nov-09 The Vernon Vipers Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Drew George (91)(F), Nick Aimes (92)(D) and future considerations to the Cowichan Valley Captials Hockey Club for the playing rights of Curtis Gedig (91)(D) and future considerations.

25-Nov-09 The Quesnel Millionaires Hockey Club acquire the playing rights of Jacob Verheyden (89)(F) from the Winnipeg Saints Hockey Club of the MJHL in exchange for future considerations.

24-Nov-09 The Merritt Centennials Hockey Club transfers the CJHL Jr A playing rights of Cole Penner (91) to the Camrose Kodiaks Hockey Club of the AJHL in exchange for future considerations.

24-Nov-09 The Burnaby Express Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Matt Ridley (90)(D) to the Salmon Arm Silverbacks Hockey Club in exchange for the playing rights of Mike Puddifant (91)(D).

BCHL teams are 0-2 after Day One at the Western Canada Cup in Nanaimo while Brooks and Yorkton are both 1-0.

Here are the standings heading into Day Two:

Today’s schedule sees MJHL champion Steinbach face Yorkton at 2 pm while Nanaimo takes on Brooks in the late game at 7 pm at Frank Crane Arena. The Surrey Eagles are off until tomorrow.

Here are the recaps from last night as posted on the Western Canada Cup website:

Bandits Down Eagles in Tournament Opener

The No. 1-ranked team in Canada most of the year, the Brooks Bandits showed they were worthy of the praise with a 4-2 win over the Surrey Eagles in the opening game of the Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup.

Power-play goals in the second period by Mark Reners and RJ Reed gave the Bandits the margin they’d need as they held off the Eagles who staged something of a third-period rally.

Brady Shaw got Surrey on the board in the final frame but a penalty shot goal by Brooks’ Cam Maclise restored the three-goal Bandits edge and essentially sealed the win. Drew Best had a late reply for Surrey.

The Eagles are next in action Monday at 7 p.m. when they take in the Steinbach Pistons of Manitoba.

The Bandits take the ice again Sunday at 7 p.m. when they face the host Nanaimo Clippers.

Terriers Nip Host Clippers

A pair of third-period goals allowed the Yorkton Terriers to pull out a come-from-behind 4-3 win over the Nanaimo Clippers Saturday night at the Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup.

The teams traded two goals each in the first with Jeremy Johnson and Tayler Thompson tallying for the Terriers and Greg Fraser and Matt Grant scoring for the Clips.

Early in the second, Colton Dahlen gave the host club a 3-2 lead going into the final frame and it looked like it might hold until Johnson got his second of the night at 13:11 of the third. Devon McMullen potted thw winner with just under four minutes to go.

Dawson MacAuley turned away 39 shots to get the win in the Yorkton crease while Derek Dun made 31 stops for Nanaimo.

Yorkton is in action Sunday, playing the Steinbach Pistons of Manitoba at 2 p.m. while the Clippers play the Brooks Bandits at 7 p.m.

The BC Major Midget League announced its All-Star rosters today and of the 42 players selected, 14 of them are featured on reserve rosters in the BC Hockey League. A number of players have even played as affiliate players on BCHL teams while a number of them have yet to skate in a BCHL game.

The All-Star Game itself is on Friday, January 18th at 7:30 pm at the Langley Events Centre. It’s the start of what’s been billed as the Major Midget League weekend, which will see ten of the league’s eleven teams face off in two doubleheaders. The match ups are: Greater Vancouver Canadians vs. Cariboo Cougars, Vancouver North West Giants vs. Thompson Blazers, Fraser Valley Thunderbirds vs. Okanagan Rockets, Valley West Hawks vs. Kootenay Ice and Vancouver North East Chiefs vs. North Island Silvertips. The South Island Royals are off that weekend.

There will no doubt be a ton of NCAA, WHL, BCHL, NHL scouts and more in attendance during the weekend. If I get a chance, I’ll definitely try to get out to Langley to catch some of the games.

The Merritt Centennials removed 20-year-old defenceman Ross Mancuso from their roster earlier this summer and now we know why.

Mancuso has retired from hockey to focus on his education and as a result, gives the Cents room for another 20-year-old. That being said, with Mancuso not returning, it leaves Merritt with Richard Sabourin, Dylan Chanter and Tyler Martin as the lone returnees on the blueline.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Merritt, BC – August 24, 2012 The Merritt Centennials would like to announce that defenceman Ross Mancuso has moved on from the BC Hockey League. The 20-year old from Coppell, Texas has decided to focus on his future and education by attending university in the United States starting this September. “Ross has decided to move on from the game of hockey and we fully respect his decision,” said Cents GM & Head Coach Luke Pierce. “We have known since the end of last season of his decision so we’re prepared to open this year without him.” Pierce added, “It’s disappointing to lose a person of his character and a player of that quality; however, we understand that sometimes these young men see a need to get on with the next step in their life.” “We wish Ross all the best in his future and thank him for his contributions with us last season,” concluded Pierce. The 6’1″, 194 pound Mancuso made the Centennials as a rookie in September of last year after playing with the junior ‘B’ Osoyoos Coyotes during the 2010-11 season. He scored his first goal of the season and first career BCHL goal on January 21 in a 4-1 win over the Victoria Grizzlies. Mancuso played 51 games in Merritt and he closes out his BCHL career with 11 points (1G, 10A) and 31 PIM. He also had two points (1G, 1A) in nine career BCHL playoff games. For further information, please contact Cents Head Coach and GM Luke Pierce at 250-378-3607.